☝️ Key Points
- The song expresses a feeling of frustration and confusion, and reflects the search for a deeper meaning in life.
- The opening verse suggests a state of continuous searching, but without a clear goal in sight.
- The lyrics reflect the feeling of disorientation and a lack of understanding about society and human connections.
- The chorus is a call for understanding and an attempt to make sense of the world and one's own life.
- The song also talks about daily struggles and efforts, the longing for change, and the striving to survive in a perceived restrictive world.
Interpretation
The lyrics of 'What's Up?' by
4 Non Blondes are an expression of frustration, confusion, and the search for a deeper meaning in life. The opening verse '25 years of my life and still I'm trying to get up that great big hill of hope for a destination' suggests that the singer is in a state of constant searching and striving, but her goal is unclear.
She feels disoriented and overwhelmed by the world around her, which she expresses through the line 'That the world was made of this brotherhood of man for whatever that means'. This line conveys her confusion and lack of understanding about society and human connection.
The chorus 'And I say: Hey yeah yeaaah! Hey yeah yeah. I said hey, What's going on?' is a cry for understanding, an attempt to make sense of the world around her.
The singer also speaks about her daily efforts and struggles through the lines 'And I try Oh my god do I try I try all the time In this institution And I pray Oh my god do I pray I pray every single day For a revolution.' This shows her longing for change and the effort she puts in to survive in a world she perceives as a restrictive institution.
Overall, 'What's Up?' is a song about the struggles of life, the search for meaning and understanding, and the pursuit of hope and change.